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Softball Seeks Redemption Monday Against Ursuline In District Semifinal

Posted on: May 13, 2018

SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School softball team will take to the field seeking a measure of payback against Ursuline Academy when the two teams square off at Sycamore High School on Monday in OHSAA District Semifinal action. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. The Eagles and Lions met earlier this season as part of the Wendy’s Spring Classic in Ashland with Ursuline taking a 9-6 win. The Lions also figure to be hungry after Milford ended its 2017 season in the OSHAA Tournament. Seventh-seeded Milford enters with a 19-8 record, while No. 4 Ursuline is 18-3.

 

THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s upcoming OHSAA Tournament opponent:

  • Monday, May 14 vs. Ursuline {at Sycamore HS}, 5:00 p.m.
    • 2018 Record: 18-3, 10-0 GGCL (5th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
    • Top Hitter: Senior Emily Young (.641/25 XBH/33 RBI/10 SB)
    • Top Pitcher: Freshman Mary Newton (1.05 ERA/13-1 record)
    • Last Meeting: 2018; Ursuline 9, Milford 6

 

A LOOK BACK: May 9 at Milford: Milford 4, West Clermont 3

Freshman Emily Allphin plated Katelyn Reynolds with the winning run on a double to left center, lifting Milford to a 4-3 walk-off win over West Clermont in OHSAA Softball Tournament action. Trailing 3-2 heading to its last at-bat, Milford got heroics from freshman Sam Boothby, senior Lynn Varner, along with Reynolds and Allphin to advance to an OHSAA Sectional Final match-up on Monday against Ursuline. The game will be played at Sycamore High School at 5 p.m.

 

GAME REWIND

The rubber match between the Eastern Cincinnati Conference co-champions was tied at two heading into the seventh. In the top of the seventh, Riley Hampton ripped a double off the left field wall to plate Kinsey Ventura and give the Wolves their first lead of the game.

 

The last of the seventh began with a bang as Boothby, making her first start since April 6 because of injury, lifted a triple over the left fielder’s head to put the tying run on third. One out later, Varner lifted a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game. Reynolds kept the inning going with a single and one batter later, Allphin ripped the first pitch she saw to left center for the winning run.

 

Milford got on the board early, scoring a first inning run on an RBI single by Allphin that plated Sydnee Harris. West Clermont tied the game in the top of the fourth, only to see Milford reclaim the lead, again on an Allphin RBI base hit in the last of the fifth. The Wolves tied the game in the top of the sixth setting the stage for the breathtaking seventh inning.

 

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 18-8; West Clermont: 18-7

WP: Hillary Huffer; LP: Reece Hampton

 

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Lynn Varner 2-3

Katelyn Reynolds 2-4

Emily Allphin 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI

Morgan Whitaker 2-3

Sam Boothby 3B

 

West Clermont

Kinsey Ventura 3-4

Riley Hampton 2B

Maddie Beasley 3-3

Reece Hampton 2B

 

May 11 at Western Brown: Milford 4, Western Brown 3

After rain cancelled several non-conference games this spring, Milford added an additional regular season game on May 11, knocking off Western Brown by a 4-3 score. More details on this game will be available soon.

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders (through games of May 9):

Batting Average: Lynn Varner (.494), Sydnee Harris (.466), Emily Allphin (.465)

Slugging Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.692), Emily Allphin (.663), Morgan Whitaker (.650)

On Base Percentage: Sydnee Harris (.577), Lynn Varner (.558), Morgan Whitaker (.516)

Runs Scored: Sydnee Harris (39), Lynn Varner (33), Katelyn Reynolds/Morgan Whitaker (31)

Hits: Sydnee Harris (41), Emily Allphin/Katelyn Reynolds (40)

RBI: Katelyn Reynolds (44), Lynn Varner (29), Emily Allphin (28)

Doubles: Katelyn Reynolds (18), Emily Allphin (14), Morgan Whitaker (11)

Triples: Sam Boothby/Olivia Craycraft/Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Home Runs: Olivia Craycraft/Morgan Whitaker (2), Three Tied (1)

Walks: Sydnee Harris (22), Oliva Craycraft (11), Lynn Varner/Morgan Whitaker (9)

Stolen Bases: Lynn Varner (12), Olivia Craycraft (7), Sydnee Harris (6)

Wins: Emily Allphin/Hillary Huffer (9)

Saves: None

ERA: Hillary Huffer (3.55), Emily Allphin (4.51), Sam Boothby (6.00)

Innings: Hillary Huffer (98.2), Emily Allphin (54.1), Sam Boothby (4.2)

Opponents Batting Average: Hillary Huffer (.309), Emily Allphin (.330), Sam Boothby (.370)

Strikeouts: Hillary Huffer (67), Emily Allphin (40), Sam Boothby (3)

 

INSIDE THE ECC: A wild final week that began with four teams in contention for the league title ended with Milford hoisting the hardware for the fifth straight year, but this time sharing the title with West Clermont. With just one day of games to play, the Eagles and Wolves, along with Anderson and Kings all were in play for a chance to win the league. After Anderson knocked off Milford, the Redskins were upset by Loveland, but the Eagles bested Kings to set-up the shared title with West Clermont.

 

The schedule for ECC teams still alive in the tournament includes: No. 7 Milford vs. No. 4 Ursuline (May 14, 5:00 p.m. at Sycamore), No. 11 Kings vs. No. 3 Lakota East (May 14, 5:00 p.m. at Hamilton) and No. 18 Anderson vs. No. 2 Lakota West (May 14, 5:00 p.m. at Harrison).

 

POLL WATCH: Milford came in tied for eighth in the final Cincinnati Enquirer area Division I coaches’ poll, sharing the position with Kings. Mason was crowned the poll champion with five place votes. Lebanon took second despite earning eight top nods. Lakota West, Lakota East and Ursuline completed the top-five. The ECC was also represented by West Clermont in 10th and Anderson among others receiving votes. The final coaches’ poll can be viewed at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

 

COLLEGE BOUND EAGLE: Milford Class of 2018 member Sydnee Harris recently announced that she has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete next season at Division I Youngstown State University.

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